After much thought, I sold my 2008 GT500 today. I owned for about three years and put 9k miles on it. I was getting way over my head with it and I could not stop buying more parts and accessories for it, so it had to go. It was a very tough decision to make, but the wife and I are buying a house next year, so I had to start sheding some overhead and debt. I only lost 2k dollars from the price I paid for it two years ago and I put about 10k worth of aftermarket parts on it. I was able to sell the Shelby, pay off my debt and still have cash in my pocket. I just ordered a 2013 Raptor and my payments on it will be cheaper than the Shelby.

The Shelby went to a good home. I was just hoping for it to go out of state or across town, but NO, the new owners live across the street from my sister!

We (wife and I) are very thankful to all of the wonderful Shelby friends we have met over the years at the Bash and at Fabulous Fords Forever. I will be at both next year, just look for a white colored 2013 Raptor!

Perhaps, on a day not too far distant, you can rejoin us as a Shelby owner. i got a good look at a Raptor in Terligua this past week (Sean, one of the Terlingua Preservation Society Board members owns it). Those are pretty formidable vehicles. Best of luck going forward.

Good time to buy a house out there - good luck with your purchase. Too bad you had to take a loss on the Shelby, but hopefully it went to a good home and you can visit it. I had to sell a 54 Corvette years ago, but it served a purpose back then - family comes first always.

At first I read the start of your story and thought what a smart decision...........then I read you just ordered a Raptor????????? Just my 2 cents, just because your payment is lower it does not mean your not more in debt than you were before, I would bet you are and now the Raptor will be upside down for many years to come where your GT500 already took its biggest hit in depreciation.

Good luck buying the house, no better time than now, that is for sure. I just do not get your justification for selling when you ordered a New Raptor.

Sorry to see another Shelby owner bite the dust. Also sad to see that you could not control yourself with Mods. I am one of the very few that is very happy with my 2012 Shelby just the way Carroll and Ford built it. I love the transmission, the tires, the interior trim, the engine, the wheels, the shifter, and everything else that everyone else bashes. Compared to anything else I have ever owned the performance is beyond awesome. I added floor mats, a trunk mat, and door edge guards. Total "mods" about $150. Hope you can resist putting mods on the Raptor.

Talk to anyone who lives in Nevada what registration fees are in this state. There is no state income tax here, but they get you with the registration fees.

Well, the thing that makes it expensive to register here is that they charge you the taxes then.In Massachusetts, they called it an "excise tax", in some places, it's a "property tax", here, it's just rolled into the registration process.People with less valuable cars don't pay much.

UPDATE: In 2009, I drove cross-country with my wife from NY in the SGT and finally just MOVED here. I figured Vegas was lucky for me.
UPDATE: GT/SC upgrade completed at SAI on July 22, 2011.
UPDATE: Left Guitar Center and joined SA as Vice President, Shelby Performance Parts, August 2012-May 2014.
UPDATE: Current General Manager of Guitar Center Summerlin, Las Vegas.

Ok, I'm going to say one last thing about this and then I'm moving on...

#1-I don't think any of you pay my bills. Yes, I took it to extremes and it is my fault. But the way I wanted to finish the Shelby, I would need to sink another 15k into it to make the way I envisioned it to be.

#2-It is just a car. It was my toy/weekend car. It was one out of over 8900 made in 2008.

#3-My stress level has dropped down to zero, so I don't feel so bad for selling it.

Matt, Dont worry about what everyone else thinks or says. Everyone has different opinions and ideas and if you are happy then (for you at least) that is all that matters. Enjoy the Raptor. Best all around vehicle out there in my opinion. Super smooth every day driver with good power, super comfortable seats, great sound system and AMAZING off road! The ONLY drawback that I can find is the gas mileage.

Matt, Dont worry about what everyone else thinks or says. Everyone has different opinions and ideas and if you are happy then (for you at least) that is all that matters. Enjoy the Raptor. Best all around vehicle out there in my opinion. Super smooth every day driver with good power, super comfortable seats, great sound system and AMAZING off road! The ONLY drawback that I can find is the gas mileage.

After much thought, I sold my 2008 GT500 today. I owned for about three years and put 9k miles on it. I was getting way over my head with it and I could not stop buying more parts and accessories for it, so it had to go. It was a very tough decision to make, but the wife and I are buying a house next year, so I had to start sheding some overhead and debt. I only lost 2k dollars from the price I paid for it two years ago and I put about 10k worth of aftermarket parts on it. I was able to sell the Shelby, pay off my debt and still have cash in my pocket. I just ordered a 2013 Raptor and my payments on it will be cheaper than the Shelby.

The Shelby went to a good home. I was just hoping for it to go out of state or across town, but NO, the new owners live across the street from my sister!

We (wife and I) are very thankful to all of the wonderful Shelby friends we have met over the years at the Bash and at Fabulous Fords Forever. I will be at both next year, just look for a white colored 2013 Raptor!

Your a stronger man than I with my future ex wiping me out !! I refuse to give up my Shelby gt the judge could tell me to sell it. I will laugh in her face as they drag me off to jail.As I say if my luck changes and win lotto there will a shelby under your christmas tree !! and lets not forget the photo of my exwife when purchasing these Shelbys. Oh the joy

I do not think any of us have an issue with what you did, it is just odd that the reason you state is to free up debt to buy a house and you then buy something that I would guess put you $20K plus more in debt.

I love the Raptor, almost bought one myself this year, but went with the Dodge instead.

I do not think any of us have an issue with what you did, it is just odd that the reason you state is to free up debt to buy a house and you then buy something that I would guess put you $20K plus more in debt.

I love the Raptor, almost bought one myself this year, but went with the Dodge instead.

That is what confused me. It's your money and car and I don't have any cares about how you spend it and it is not my business. Sounds like you are happy....and that's what counts.

Matt, Dont worry about what everyone else thinks or says. Everyone has different opinions and ideas and if you are happy then (for you at least) that is all that matters. Enjoy the Raptor. Best all around vehicle out there in my opinion. Super smooth every day driver with good power, super comfortable seats, great sound system and AMAZING off road! The ONLY drawback that I can find is the gas mileage.

I like your thinking. Have I had to sell cars to make ends meet - You Bet. Glad you and the Mrs. are going to by a house. For a house turns into a Home and a Home is roots. I have always bought my Toys - be they cars, guitars, art etc with one thing always in the back of my mind. I can always get Toys but a Home with Roots = priceless.

Matt, don't be as stranger, IHMO an ex-Shelby owner is welcome at Team Shelby..... and I have it on good athority ( gvt. leak) ya thats the ticket, that Mr. Shelby had a hand in the Raptor build, ya that's it! Mr. Shelby came up with the name (Raptor).......... sooo your still good, fit right in !!

Matt, I’m a little late posting a reply as I just joined TS, though I wanted to say that your old girl is being well cared for. I’ve already put three coats of wax on her and she has become a big part of our family. Our first road trip to CA was just a few weekends ago and I loved every minute of driving the car, sometimes I think more than the actual vacation events, ha. Though, I would never tell the wife that, j/k.

I would also like to thank you for all of the time and effort in modifications that you have put into the car. Part of the deal with the wife on getting a Shelby was that I could not go down the modification road as I have with many previous cars. When I saw the time and effort that you put into the car to bring it closer to perfection, I was hooked. It performs flawlessly with the extra power and suspension setup, minor understeer and very predictable oversteer with a squeeze of the throttle. You truly brought the car to a very balanced level of performance.

I finally sold the 02’ Z06. I miss her, but the Shelby is more than a replacement and it actually brings more joy to drive. It’s always amazing to see kids faces plastered to the rear windows of their parents car smiling and just begging for you to do something cool.

I’m glad you were able to take care of your financial needs and I would love to see the Raptor some day.